UNLV basketball has 'big haul' in transfer portal

UC Irvine guard Myles Che (77) drives the ball near UC San Diego guard Hayden Gray (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Big West Conference tournament Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson. Photo by: Ronda Churchill / Associated Press

UNLV’s basketball program bolstered its roster tonight by securing commitments from two standout transfer players. 

First-year coach Josh Pastner landed guard Myles Che from UC Irvine and forward Kimani Hamilton from High Point.

Che, a 6-foot-2 rising junior guard, comes to UNLV after an impressive season where he started all 38 games for UC Irvine. He was instrumental in leading the Anteaters to both the Big West Conference regular season title and an appearance in the NIT championship game. 

His statistics showcase his versatility: 12.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, complemented by an exceptional 43% 3-point shooting percentage.

In a significant recruiting victory for Pastner, Che chose UNLV despite interest from several power-conference programs including Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss.

The 6-foot-8 Hamilton joins as a rising senior after averaging 13.1 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 52% from the field last season. 

He helped High Point claim their league championship and secure an NCAA Tournament berth. Hamilton brings considerable experience, having started all 71 games during his High Point career.

The impact of these acquisitions didn’t go unnoticed in the basketball world. CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein highlighted the significance of the moves, noting on social media that “no one in sports has had a bigger haul tonight than Josh Pastner” – particularly notable considering this occurred on the same evening as the NFL Draft.

Dembele joins Mason Abittan, Howie Fleming Jr., Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn, Al Green, Tyrin Jones, Emmanuel Stephen, Ladji Dembele, Nass Cunningham and Issac Williamson as incoming players. James Evans Jr. and Jacob Bannarbie have also committed to return to the program from last season’s roster.

Cunningham, who redshirted this season at Alabama, committed earlier in the week. He has four seasons of eligibility.